ABOUT
Mauricio Ruiz is the founder of The Manager's Playbook (TMP) platform, a podcast and newsletter dedicated to sharing deep industry insights, expert advice, and candid conversations with top music professionals, including Russ, Troy Carter, Charlie Rocket, Mike Caren, Amber Grimes, Milana Lewis, Natalie Prospere, Chris Anokute and more. TMP serves as an essential resource for artists, aspiring managers, and anyone curious about the inner workings of the music industry. With over 17 years of experience in music and entertainment, Mauricio has built a remarkable track record of success. As the founder of 8 Til Faint, an innovative artist management company, he has driven over 8 billion audio and video streams while managing multi-platinum-selling artists, sold-out tours, and high-impact visual content. The collaborative portfolio includes esteemed clients such as Grammy Award-winning, Juno Award-winning artists like Jessie Reyez, The Weeknd, Eminem, Daniel Caesar, Calvin Harris, Avicii, and Celine Dion, along with renowned brands like Nike, Pernod Ricard, Canon, NBA, and more. In 2021, Mauricio received the Music Managers Forum Banner Year Award for outstanding achievements in music management. In addition to his work across artist management and media, Mauricio has become a trusted voice in industry conversations. In 2026, he moderated the ASCAP Experience Hitmakers panel, following his role as co-host of Billboard Canada’s Music Managers to Watch in 2025.
PANELS
Artist Development Reimagined: Who Builds a Career in 2026?
Artist development was once largely associated with the traditional label model. Today, artists can emerge from virtually anywhere, audiences can develop before traditional industry infrastructure is in place, and the path from discovery to a sustainable career is increasingly nonlinear. Managers often play a central role, but labels, distributors, agencies and other partners may enter the process at very different stages. This conversation examines what artist development actually means in 2026 — how talent is discovered, audiences are identified and grown, creative and commercial strategies evolve, and early momentum is converted into lasting opportunity. As traditional roles and timelines continue to shift, who drives the process, when do different partners enter the picture, and what does meaningful artist development look like today?
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 2:50 PM